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scanmem

github.com

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Spec score 7.8 #7 of 23 in Game Memory Editors

What it is

scanmem is a free, open-source interactive debugging utility for finding and changing variable values in an executing process. It searches a process by PID and uses values observed over successive scans to narrow the possible memory addresses. The command-line tool can search for exact values, compare changed or unchanged values, find increases or decreases, take snapshots, and search strings when configured for string scans. It can monitor matches as their values change and set values for selected matches or all known matches. GameConqueror provides a graphical front end with a process finder, flexible search syntax, variable locking, and a memory browser and editor; users can choose search regions and types. The project separates the command-line frontend from libscanmem, which performs the scanning. The project describes scanmem as a Linux utility and documents an Android build using a standalone Android NDK toolchain. Linux interactive commands require libreadline and a mounted /proc filesystem, while the GUI has additional dependencies. The default scan data type is int, though the option command can change it. scanmem is GPLv3; libscanmem is LGPLv3.

Spec sheet

Purpose
scanmem is an interactive debugging utility for isolating and modifying a variable’s address in an executing process.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Intended users
The project describes scanmem as a debugging utility and GameConqueror as a graphical game-cheating tool for Linux.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Integrations
The release notes announce a scanmem Slack chat for project collaboration.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Security
GitHub reports that the project has no security policy file and no published security advisories.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Support
The README points users to man pages, the command-line help, and GameConqueror's interactive help for documentation.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
License
The project lists GPLv3 for scanmem and LGPLv3 for libscanmem; the GameConqueror README lists GPLv3.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Android build
The project documents building Android interactive capabilities with a standalone Android NDK toolchain.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
CLI and library
The project separates the scanmem command line frontend from libscanmem, the library that performs the memory scanning.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Documentation
The project points users to man pages, command-line help, the interactive scanmem prompt, and GameConqueror’s interactive help.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
GUI
GameConqueror is a graphical front end for scanmem with flexible search syntax, variable locking, a process finder, and a memory browser/editor.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
GUI features
GameConqueror provides flexible search syntax, variable locking, a process finder, and a memory browser/editor.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
GUI requirements
GameConqueror lists libscanmem, Python 2 or 3, PyGObject, GTK+ 3, and policykit as requirements.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
How scanning works
It searches a process using its PID and values observed at different times, narrowing candidate addresses across scans.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Installation
The README documents building from source with autotools and offers build instructions with or without the GUI.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Interface
The GUI supports searching for values, choosing search regions and types, and editing or locking selected addresses.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Linux requirements
The README says scanmem requires libreadline for interactive commands and a mounted /proc filesystem.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Monitoring and editing
Commands can monitor a match as its value changes and set values for selected matches or all known matches.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Notable limitation
The default scan data type is int, and the manual says it can be changed with the option command.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Platform support
The repository describes scanmem as a Linux memory scanner and documents an Android build using the Android NDK standalone toolchain.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Requirements
scanmem requires libreadline for interactive commands and a mounted /proc filesystem.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Scanning
The v0.17 release lists snapshot and update support for string and bytearray scans.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Scripting
The v0.17 release adds command-line options to run commands before interactive mode and to exit on initial command errors.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Search types
The command-line tool supports exact-value scans, changed or unchanged comparisons, increased or decreased comparisons, snapshots, and string searches when the scan type is set to string.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

scanmem Free GPLv3; libscanmem is LGPLv3 Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com

Every scanmem plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Searches by process ID across successive scans.
  • Supports exact, changed, increased and decreased value searches.
  • Can monitor matches and set their values.
  • GameConqueror includes process finder and memory editor.
  • Android build instructions are documented.

Limits

  • Linux interactive use requires libreadline and mounted /proc.
  • GameConqueror has additional listed dependencies.
  • Default scan data type is int.

Who it suits

scanmem suits Linux users who need to inspect or change values in a running process, including debugging use. GameConqueror offers a graphical option for users who want search controls and a memory editor; the project also documents Android builds.

Verdict

scanmem offers a command-line scanning utility and a separate graphical frontend, with controls for searching, monitoring and editing values. Linux requirements and GUI dependencies matter before installation; the project also documents an Android build.

Where Specifiction places it

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